Number Ten to advertise new Whitehall CEO role

Work is expected to begin imminently on finding candidates to fulfil a new post of chief executive at the centre of government.

In the reshuffle, which saw the decision of Sir Bob Kerslake, the current Head of the Civil Service, to step down from that role in the autumn, prime minister David Cameron announced the creation of the new chief executive post "to lead the next phase of civil service transformation and the government’s efficiency and reform agenda."

The chief executive will take on relevant functions of the permanent secretary of the Cabinet Office, Richard Heaton. Heaton will lead the Cabinet Office in the interim period and remain as First Parliamentary Counsel. The chief executive post will report to the Cabinet Secretary, who will take the title of Head of the Civil Service, while maintaining his current responsibilities.

A selection panel, chaired by Sir David Normington, the First Civil Service Commissioner, is expected to begin the recruitment process shortly.

It is understood that the Cabinet Office will be asked to run an external competition, which will start with an advertisement to be placed soon. The type of "outstanding candidate" is likely to be someone in the private sector, with a track record of having managed and delivered change and cost reduction, a 10 Downing Street spokesperson indicated.

There may be some permanent secretaries within Whitehall who may be considered for the role, the spokesperson added.